BATON ROUGE -- Most elected officials across Louisiana would have to disclose certain details about their personal finances under much-debated legislation that cleared the state Senate unanimously early Wednesday evening.

The 38-0 vote, however, was not indicative of the nearly three-hour debate the preceded it, as senators cast one divided vote after another on amendments that tweaked the details of exactly which officials would have to share what kind of information.

The question now for House Bill 730, the bellwether proposal of an ethics reform agenda foisted upon lawmakers by outside activists, is whether the House will accept changes made in the upper chamber or force the issue to a conference committee comprising representatives and who will attempt to resolve the differences.

In addition to statewide officeholders, legislators and candidates for those offices, the House version adopted earlier this session also included all local elected officials. But for legislative and local filers, it required only disclosure of most income, debts and holdings in two broad ranges: above or below $10,000.

The Senate version exempts part-time officeholders in towns with a population of 5,000 or less. But senators adopted 10 reporting ranges for those the legislation still affects, which would provide more detail about a filer's financial holdings and activities.

Legislators currently report only income of more than $250 derived from the state; its political subdivisions such as parishes, towns and school boards or the gaming industry. There are no reporting requirements for local officials.

Both versions would extend to all statewide officeholders and candidates the reporting requirements that currently apply only to the governor and candidates for that office. Those forms require disclosure of most income, assets and debts in six broad ranges.

Sponsored by Reps. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, and Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge, the proposal first gained its legs from LA Ethics 1, a consortium of business groups, government watchdog outfits and public policy think tanks that came together this year to push the issue.

The group's premise: Making public officials disclose more of their personal financial ties would shine light on potential conflicts of interest and improve Louisiana's reputation, thus boosting the Bayou State's ability to deflect negative attention and attract business investment from outside.

That argument was on full display as several senators urged their colleagues to embrace an opportunity to act in opposition to the worst aspects of Louisiana's political history and traditions.